We recently connected with INES BELAYOUNI and have shared our conversation below.
INES , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Music has been part of me for as long as I can remember. My mom loves to tell the story of how I started humming melodies when I was only nine months old. By the time I was three, I was already singing. School never truly interested me, I always felt more alive when I was surrounded by music.
I still remember the moment everything clicked: I was eight years old, holding my very first Walkman, listening to a Whitney Houston cassette for the first time. The power of her voice, the emotion in every note, it was like a revelation. I knew instantly that this was my path. I didn’t just want to sing; I needed to.
Music became my refuge through every chapter of my life, the place I turned to for comfort, joy, and purpose. Even after earning my master’s degree and starting a career, that inner voice kept calling me back to what I loved most. I joined a cultural center, took vocal lessons, and began performing, but I knew it was only the beginning.
Everything changed when I had the chance to be part of a song in my country, that became a huge success. That experience gave me the confidence and freedom to dedicate myself fully to music. It opened doors I never imagined and eventually led me to Los Angeles, where I continue to grow, create, and share my voice with the world.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Music has always been more than just a passion for me, it’s who I am. I grew up surrounded by melodies and rhythms that spoke to my soul before I even understood what they meant. I sing in five languages English, French, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian. It’s a reflection of my roots, my travels, and the different cultures that have shaped the person and artist I’ve become.
What excites me most about music is its ability to connect people. No matter where you come from or what language you speak, music has a way of reaching your heart directly. That’s what I chase every time I sing, that moment of truth where emotion transcends words.
Every song I create tells a piece of my story, the highs, the heartbreaks, the growth. I’ve always been drawn to songs that carry emotion and depth, and I try to bring that same honesty into my own work.
Over the past few years, my journey has taken me from performing in my home country to pursuing music full-time in Los Angeles. A dream I once only whispered to myself as a little girl listening to Whitney Houston on my Walkman. Being here has opened so many doors and allowed me to collaborate with incredible talents.One of the most important collaborations in my journey has been with my producer, Jamelle Adisa. Together, we’ve released songs like “Attention,” “Dance,” and “Heartbeat,” available in all Platforms. Each one representing a different side of who I am as an artist from vulnerability to empowerment to pure energy. Working with Jamelle has allowed me to explore new sounds and evolve creatively in ways I never expected.
Right now, I’m focused on the next chapter my upcoming single, set to be released no later than November. It’s a song that feels very personal and marks a new stage in my artistic evolution. I can’t wait to share it with everyone. What I want people to know about me is that everything I do comes from the heart and my hope is that when people listen, they feel a little less alone and maybe even inspired to follow their own purpose, just like I followed mine.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It’s been seven years since I left Tunisia and moved to Los Angeles on my own to chase a dream that had lived in my heart since I was a little girl. The road hasn’t been easy, it’s been full of challenges, uncertainty and moments where I had to rebuild myself from the ground up. But every struggle taught me something invaluable about who I am and what it really means to believe in your purpose.
If I had to name the three qualities that shaped my journey the most, they would be resilience, faith and passion.
Resilience because starting from zero in a new country, far from home, and pursuing a career in music required me to keep going even when it felt impossible. There were moments I could have given up and at times, I still face these moments… but I remind myself of the little girl in me, who always dreamed of what I am chasing now.
Faith because sometimes nothing seems to be working, yet trusting the process and believing that everything is unfolding for a reason, kept me grounded.
Passion because music has always been my light. It’s the reason I keep showing up, creating, and sharing my voice with the world.
My advice to anyone starting their journey is simple: never give up on your dreams, no matter how hard it gets. There will be setbacks, doubts, and times when it feels like nothing is happening but your sacrifices are never in vain. Keep pushing, keep believing, and keep going, because you never know when everything will pay off and your dreams will finally become reality.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My parents have always been my pillars. They shaped the person I am today through their hard work and the sacrifices they made for me and my brother. Everything they did, was for our future and their example of perseverance and dedication has stayed with me every step of the way. My brother has also been an incredible support, especially during the pandemic, offering guidance, encouragement, and reminding me to keep going when times were uncertain. Honestly, I don’t think I would have come this far without them.
Professionally, meeting Jamelle Adisa completely changed my journey. We met randomly and that encounter developed into a meaningful artistic collaboration. He pushed me to write my own material and helped me navigate songs where I struggled to find the right melodies or words. Thanks to his guidance, I was able to grow creatively and even record a French intro for Usher during his mini residency in France back in 2023, an experience I’ll never forget.
Between my family’s unwavering support and Jamelle’s mentorship, I’ve been able to develop both personally and artistically. Their belief in me, combined with the opportunities I’ve been able to seize, has been instrumental in helping me reach where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.inesbelayouni.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inesbelayouni
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inesbelayounipage?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@inesbelayouni?si=Weu9glP5zAOuStwy
- Other: Spotify link
https://spotify.link/yEumpAKKwXb
Image Credits
Mehdi Hassine
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